Lowestoft’s first game under new manager Dale Brooks ended in defeat.

Brooks, who stepped up from assistant after replacing Ady Gallagher last week, had a strong-looking squad at his disposal, with Andrew Fisk and Rossi Jarvis back for the first time in six weeks and the previous week’s absentees, Dean Leacock, Jacek Zielonka and Jake Reed, available.

However, it was a tough first game for Brooks, against a Met Police side on an 11-game unbeaten run that had seen them rise from 22nd to a place in the top six.

Lowestoft created the first chance but from Harry Barker’s cross Reed’s header looped back over the keeper onto the roof of the net.

But Police took command and it took Ben Dudzinski two attempts to collect a vicious 25-yard effort from Ryan James.

The visitors went close again before taking a 19th-minute lead. Tom Bird’s free-kick saw keeper Dudzinski fail to hold Jonny Wright’s header and the big striker bundled the ball home.

As the interval approached Lowestoft pressured the Police defence, Zielonka testing the keeper from 25 yards and from an Adam Smith corner a Travis Cole header flew just past the post.

Ryan James saw Dudzinski hold one effort and then put a header over the bar from a couple of yards out as the Police looked to increase their lead after the half-time break.

The game was effectively sealed 12 minutes from time when Smith lost his footing just outside the home penalty area and the ball was played through to Bayley Mummery who took it around the keeper to score.

Lowestoft Town captain Travis Cole being spoken to by the referee.

To add insult to injury Lloyd Macklin added a third in the final minute before Lowestoft hit a consolation goal when Reed headed in Barker’s cross in added time.

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